Rolling mill structure



July 23, 1963 H. s. METZGER 3,098,403

ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE Filed April 11, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENIOP H.$.Metzyer July 23, 1963 H. s. METZGER 3,0 0

ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE Filed April 11, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-2 HSJVBZZ er July 23, 1963 H. S. METZGER v ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 11, 1960 fietzyep July 23, 1963 H. s. METZGER 3,098,

ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE Filed April 11, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a1 INVENTOE fififletzyer United States Patent Ofitice 3,098,403 Patented July 23, 1963 3,098,403 ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE Hans Siegfried Metzger, St. Iugbert (Saar), Germany, as-

slgnor to Moeller & Neumann G.m.b.H., St. Iugbert (Saar), Germany Filed Apr. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 21,203 Claims priority, application Germany Apr. 11, 1959 '7 Claims. (Cl. 80-38) This invention relates to metal working and more particularly to a rolling mill structure specifically designed to make possible the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters.

In certain types of rolling mill operations, it is desirable to utilize working rolls of relatively small diameters, but in mills where the working rolls are directly driven, the minimum diameter of rolls which may be utilized has been determined by the strength of the rolls in relation to the capacity thereof for transmitting the necessary torque. As a result of this strength factor, it has not been possible in mills of this type to reduce the diameter of the working rolls as much as desirable.

Various solutions to this problem have been proposed and tested and one of these solutions involves the use of ten rolls, including the working roll on each side of the rolling plane. The working rolls in this type of mill are supported and driven frictionally by intermediate and backing rollers and in addition to the space required for accommodating the large number of rolls required in this type of mill there is also the question of cost of manufacture and maintenance which is obviously relatively high. Other solutions have involved relatively complex supporting and driving rollers arranged in various relationships and in which relatively complex supporting structure for the various rolls has been employed and obviously these mills also present troublesome questions of space requirements and cost.

It has been found that a satisfactory solution to the problem of utilizing working rolls of abnormally small diameters may be provided by utilizing a particular arrangement of seven rolls, including the working roll on each side of the rolling plane and this solution materially reduces the space and cost requirements when compared with the previously utilized twenty roll mills.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a rolling mill structure which may be conveniently and economically constructed and which will occupy a minimum of space while providing for the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rolling mill structure permitting the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters and in which such working rolls are supported and driven by a system of rollers, this system including a pair of relatively large backing rollers which are driven and which in turn frictionally drive the working rolls through the remainder of the roll system.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a rolling mill structure permitting the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters and utilizing a system of rolls for supporting and frictionally driving the working rolls and in which it is necessary to provide bearing supports for only a pair of relatively large driven backing rolls and one relatively small center roll disposed in the plane of the axes of the working roll.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rolling mill structure permitting the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters and in which the working rolls are supported and frictionally driven by additional rolls and in which the rolls to which driving power is applied may be of relatively large diameter thereby providing adequate strength for transmission of the necessary torque.

A further object of the invention is the provision of rolling mill structure permitting the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters and in which the working rolls are supported and frictionally driven by additional rolls and in which the contacting surfaces of all of the rolls may be continuous from end to end.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a rolling mill structure permitting the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters, each working roll being engaged and supported by a pair of horizontally spaced intermediate rolls which also engage a pair of horizontally spaced relatively large diameter driven backing rolls, the intermediate rolls also being engaged by a central roller disposed in the plane of the axes of the working rolls with such central roller being supported in vertically movable bearings and also a supporting roll disposed in the plane of the axes of the working rolls and engaging the center rolls, as well as the twobacking rollers, the roll system providing for support and frictional drive of the working rollers.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rolling mill structure permitting the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters and in which each working roll is supported by a pair of horizontally spaced driven intermediate rolls, which intermediate rolls are in turn engaged and supported by horizontally spaced backing rolls of relatively large diameter, the intermediate rolls also being engaged by a central roll disposed in the plane of the axes of the working rolls and supported in bearings for vertical movement, such central roll being in turn engaged by a supporting roll which also engages the two backing rolls.

A further object of the invention is the provision of rolling mill structure permitting the use of working rolls of abnormally small diameters and in which such working rolls are supported by a pair of driven intermediate rolls which in turn are supported by relatively large diameter backing rolls, the backing rolls being formed as a series of axially spaced individual rollers mounted on fixed axes, the intermediate rolls also being engaged by a cen tral roll disposed in the plane of the axes of the working rolls and supported in bearings for vertical movement, there also being a supporting roll engaging the central roll and the two backing rolls.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrange ment of rolls and a rolling mill structure constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 4 a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

With continued reference to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement of rolls in a rolling mill structure of this invention and as shown therein, there are provided working rolls 10 and 11 disposed above and below respectively, the rolling plane as indicated by the heavy line 12. The working rolls 10 and 11 are of abnormally small diameters when compared to the diameters of the working rolls in mills in which the working rolls are directly driven and furthermore, it is to be noted that the working rolls 10* and 11 are not supported in bearings, but are supported and driven in a manner which will presently appear. The supporting and driving roll system for both of the working rolls 10 and 11 is the same and consequently, only the supporting and driving 3 roll system for the working roll 11 is shown and described and it is to be understood that this system is also duplicated for the working roll As clearly shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the working roll 11 is engaged and supported by a pair of horizontally spaced intermediate rolls 13 and 14 and these intermediate rolls are freely rnovably radially and are not supported by bearings or other similar structure. Disposed in the plane of the axes of the Working rolls 10 and 11 and located immediately below the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 is a center roll 15 which engages the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 and the center roll 15 is rotatably supported in bearings 16 mounted for vertical movement in slots 21a of the checks 21 which are disposed in the mill frame 17. A supporting roll 18 is disposed directly below the center roll 15 in the plane of the axes of the Working rolls 10 and 11 and the supporting roll 18 engages the center roll 15.

A pair of horizontally spaced relatively large diameter backing rolls 19 and 20 are rotatably mounted in chocks 21 carried by the mill frame 17 and the shafts 22 are provided with suitable coupling means 23 for driving the backing rolls 19 and 20. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the backing rolls 19 and 20 engage the supporting roll 18 and also engage the intermediate rolls 13 and 14. For this reason, the backing rolls 19 and 20 support and frictionally drive the entire roll system, including the working rolls 10 and 11.

As mentioned above, there are no supporting bearings provided for the working roll 11, the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 and the supporting roll 18 and these rolls are maintained in the position shown in FIG. 1, by reason of the relative diameters of the rolls, together with their placement and the distribution of forces present in the roll system. With particular reference to FIG. 3, there is shown by means of force diagrams, the distribution of forces in the roll system and this distribution of forces applies for both the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1 and the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the downward force exerted by the working roll 11 is resisted by the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 and such downward force for each intermediate roll 13 and 14 is represented by the vector a and this force resolves into the two components b and c. As shown, the direction of the force of component b is through the axis of backing roll 19 and also, of course, through backing roll 20. The direction of the component 0 is through the center of the center roll 15 and, of course, the component c is impressed on the center roll 15 from both of the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 resulting in the forces 0 as indicated by the vectors in FIG. 3 and such component c provide a resultant downward force represented by the vector at which is resisted by the supporting roll 18. Since the supporting roll 18 is in turn supported by the backing rolls 19 and 20, the downward force a resolves into two components e, the direction of which is through the center of the roll 19 and through the center of the roll 20 and as a result of the force components d and e exerted on the backing rolls 1'9 and 20, the resultant force and direction thereof resisted by the backing rolls 19 and 20 is represented by the vector 1 as shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, in order for the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 to remain in operative position it is necessary that the axes of intermediate rolls 13 and 14 be disposed inwardly of lines between the axis of the working roll 11 and the axes of the backing rolls 19 and 20, as represented by the line 24 in FIG. 3. If the axes of the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 were to lie outside of the line 24, such intermediate rolls 13 and 14 would not remain in operative position, but as a result of the position of such axes inwardly of the line 24, as well as the direction of forces exerted on the rolls, the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 will maintain their operative positions as shown in the drawings. As mentioned above, the center roll 15 is supported in bearings for vertical movement, but lateral movement of such roll is not permitted and this is for the reason that lateral movement of the roll 15 would cause the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 to shift out of a horizontal plane and would also move the axis of one of these rolls outside of the line 24, thereby allowing such roll to become displaced and destroy the utility of the structure.

As a result of the above described rolling mill structure, the diameter of the working roll 11, as well as the diameters of the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 may be so selected as to provide for the desired small diameter working roll and at the same time, permit the axes of the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 to remain inwardly of the line 24, thereby insuring that the intermediate rolls 13 and 14 remain in operative position at all times. The rolls 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 are axially secured by angular plates 42 and by the chocks 21 and the plates 42 are detachably fixed on the chocks 21 for permitting convenient changing of working rolls 10 and 11.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a somewhat modified form of the invention in which working rolls 25 and 26 are disposed above and below the rolling plane indicated by the line 27 and the working roll 26 is engaged and supported by intermediate rolls 28 and 29. In this form of the invention, the intermediate rolls 28 and 29 are driven through suitable coupling means 31.

As in the previously described form of the invention, the intermediate rolls 28 and 29 are engaged by a center roll 32 disposed in the plane of the axes of working rolls 25 and 26 and the support roll 32 is carried by bearings 33 slidably mounted in slots 41a of the bearing frames 41 which are disposed in the mill frame 34. Disposed directly below the center roll 32 and in the plane of the axes of the working rolls 25 and 26 is a support roll 35 and no bearings are provided for mounting this roll.

Two outer bearing frames 41 are mounted on the mill frame 34 and fixed axles 37 and 38 are carried by the bearing frames 41.

Rotatably mounted on the axles 37 and 38 are a series of axially spaced backing rolls 39 and a series of axially spaced backing rolls 40. Backing rolls 39 engage and support the support roll 35 and also the intermediate roll 28. In a similar manner, backing rolls 40 engage and support the support roll 35 and the intermediate roll 29. The force distribution in this form of the invention is the same as that described above in connection with the first form of the invention and also it is necessary in this form of the invention for the axes of the intermediate rolls 28 and 29 to be disposed inwardly of the line 24 between the center of the working roll 26 and the centers of the backing rolls 39 and 40. The form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 is designed primarily to provide additional strength for resisting greater rolling loads than is possible with the arrangement of FIG. 1 and in view of the nature of the backing rolls 39 and 40 of FIG. 3 in which the same comprise axially spaced individual rolls, such rolls cannot be properly driven and consequently, it is necessary to provide the driving power through the intermediate rolls 28 and 29, as mentioned above and rolls 28 and 29 must be of a sufiicient size to transmit the required torque. The rolls 25 and 26 are axially fixed by plates 45 which are detachably secured to the mill frame 34.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it must be noted that the spaced backing rolls 39 and 40 are constructed as selfaligning roller bearings and are held in place by spacer plates 36. The outer bearing frames 41, the inside rings of the backing rolls, as well as the intermediate plates 36 form a unit with the axles by means of covers 43,

which, by means of screws 44, are pulled against the end faces of the axles 37 and 38' and the bearing frames 41.

In view of the above it will be seen that there has been provided by this invention a relatively simple, yet highly efficient arrangement for rolling mills and one which permits the use of abnormally small working rolls, as well as a structure in which the number of rolls is reduced to a minimum and furthermore, the space requirements are kept as small as possible.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Rolling mill structure including two working rolls, one of said rolls being disposed above and the other disposed below the rolling plane, two pairs of horizontally spaced intermediate rolls freely movable radially in all directions, one pair engaging one working roll and the other pair engaging the other working roll to support and drive the same, center rolls positively guided for vertical movement only in the plane of said working rolls and engaging each pair of said intermediate rolls, said center rolls being movable vertically with respect to all other rolls, supporting rolls disposed in the plane of said working rolls and engaging each of said center rolls and a pair of positively driven horizontally spaced backing rolls of relatively large diameter with respect to the other rolls, said backing rolls engaging said intermediate rolls and said supporting rolls to support and drive the same and thereby drive said working roll, the axes of said intermediate rolls being disposed inwardly of lines between the axes of said working rolls and the axes of the respective backing rolls, whereby said intermediate rolls are maintained in operative position, the engagement between all of said rolls being frictional only, whereby torque is transmitted from any of said rolls to an engaging roll solely by friction.

2. Rolling mill structure including two working rolls, one of said rolls being disposed above and the other disposed below the rolling plane, two pairs of horizontally spaced intermediate rolls, one pair engaging one of said working rolls and the other pair engaging the other of said working rolls to support and drive the same, center rolls positively guided for vertical movement only in the plane of said working rolls and engaging each pair of said intermediate rolls, said center rolls being movable vertically with respect to all other rolls, supporting rolls disposed in the plane of said working rolls and engaging each of said center rolls and a pair of positively driven horizontally spaced backing rolls of relatively large diameter with respect to the other rolls, said backing rolls engaging said intermediate rolls and said supporting rolls to support and drive the same and thereby drive said working roll, the axes of said intermediate rolls being disposed inwardly of lines between the axes of said working rolls and the axes of the respective backing rolls, whereby said intermediate rolls are maintained in operative position, the engagement between all of said rolls being frictional only, whereby torque is transmitted from any of said rolls to an engaging roll solely by friction.

3. Rolling mill structure including two working rolls, one of said rolls being disposed above and the other disposed below the rolling plane, respectively, roll supporting and driving structure on one side of said rolling plane in cluding a pair of horizontally spaced intermediate rolls engaging one of said working rolls to support and drive the same, a center roll disposed in the plane of said working rolls and engaging said pair of intermediate rolls, a supporting roll disposed in the plane of said working rolls and engaging said center roll and a pair of horizontally spaced backing rolls of relatively large diameter with respect to the other rolls, said backing rolls engaging said intermediate rolls and said supporting roll to support the same, the :axes of said intermediate rolls being disposed inwardly of lines between the axes of one of said working rolls and the axes of the respective backing rolls, whereby said intermediate rolls are maintained in operative position, the engagement between all of said rolls being frictional only, whereby torque is transmitted from any of said rolls to an engaging roll solely by friction, said center roll being fixed against lateral displacement and positively guided for vertical displacement only in the plane of said working rolls and relative to the other rolls, the vertical movement of said center roll serving to compensate for wear of the rolls.

4. Rolling mill structure as defined in claim 3 in which said intermediate rolls are positively driven.

5. Rolling mill structure including two working rolls, one of said rolls being disposed above and the other disposed below the rolling plane, two pairs of positively driven horizontally spaced intermediate rolls, one pair engaging one of said working rolls and the other pair engaging the other of said working rolls to support and drive the same, center rolls positively guided for vertical movement only in the plane of said working rolls and engaging each pair of said intermediate rolls, said center rolls being movable vertically with respect to all other rolls, supp-orting rolls disposed in the plane of said working rolls and engaging each of said center rolls and a pair of horizontally spaced backing rolls of relatively large diameter with respect to the other rolls, said backing rolls engaging said intermediate rolls and said supporting rolls to support the same, the axes of said intermediate rolls being disposed inwardly of lines: between the axes of said working rolls and the axes of the respective backing rolls, the engagement between said working rolls and said intermediate rolls being frictional only, whereby torque is transmitted from said intermediate rolls to said working rolls solely by friction.

6. Rolling mill structure as defined in claim 5, in which each backing roll comprises -a fixed shaft and a plurality of axially spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said shaft, there being supports for said shaft at opposite ends and at least at one intermediate point.

7. Rolling mill structure as defined in claim 5, in which each backing roll comprises a fixed shaft and a plurality of axially spaced rollers rotatably mounted on said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 222,973 Wilmot Dec. 23, 1879 1,621,284 Slick Mar. 15, 1927 1,964,893 Rohn July 3, 1934 2,160,767 Wadsworth May 30, 1939 2,181,173 Oatulle Nov. 28, 1939 2,776,586 Sendzimir Jan. 8, 1957 2,807,178 Grob Sept. 24, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 713,348 Great Britain Aug. 11, 1954 869,276 Great Britain June 28, 1957 885,385 Germany Aug. 3, 1953 1,178,590 France Dec. 15, 1958 1,188,990 France Mar. 16, 1959 

1. ROLLING MILL STRUCTURE INCLUDING TWO WORKING ROLLS, ONE OF SAID ROLLS BEING DISPOSED ABOVE AND THE OTHER DISPOSED BELOW THE ROLLING PLANE, TWO PAIRS OF HORIZONTALLY SPACED INTERMEDIATE ROLLS FREELY MOVABLE RADIALLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS, ONE PAIR ENGAGING ONE WORKING ROLL AND THE OTHER PAIR ENGAGING THE OTHER WORKING ROLL TO SUPPORT AND DRIVE THE SAME, CENTER ROLLS POSITIVELY GUIDED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT ONLY IN THE PLANE OF SAID WORKING ROLLS AND ENGAGING EACH PAIR OF SAID INTERMEDIATE ROLLS SAID CENTERS ROLLS BEING MOVABLE VERTICALLY WITH RESPECT TO ALL OTHER ROLLS, SUPPORTING ROLLS DISPOSED IN THE PLANE OF SAID WORKING ROLLS AND ENGAGING EACH OF SAID CENTER ROLLS AND A PAIR OF POSITIVELY DRIVEN HORZONTALLY SPACED BACKING ROLLS OF RELATIVELY LARGE DIAMETER WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER ROLLS, SAID BACKING ROLLS ENGAGING SAID INTERMEDIATE ROLL AND SAID SUPPORTING ROLLS TO SUPPORT AND DRIVE THE SAME AND THEREBY DRIVE AND WORKING ROLL, THE AXES OF SAID INTERMEDIATE ROLLS BEING DISPOSED INWARDLY OF LINES BETWEEN THE AXES OF SAID WORKING ROLLS AND THE AXES OF THE RESPECTIVE BACKING ROLLS, WHEREBY SAID INTERMEDIATE ROLLS AND MAINTAINED IN OPERATIVE POSITION, THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN ALL OF SAID ROLLS BEING FRICTIONAL ONLY, WHEREBY TORQUE IS TRANSMITTED FROM ANY OF SAID ROLLS TO AN ENGAGING ROLL SOLELY BY FRICTION. 